Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice or the Avengers or any of the characters.

Or the cover.
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Drip, drop, drip, drop.

That's the first thing Robin noticed when he started to gain consciousness. The second was how sore his limbs were. His hands were tied in front of him and his legs felt like there were 20 pound weights on them.

Great. Batman is going to kill me.

Robin shifted his weight so he was lying on his back. His left side was numb from the weight of his body. He slowly opened his eyes to get a better understanding of his surroundings. The room he was in was dark, so dark he couldn't see his own hands wave in front of his vision. He stretched out his legs but they didn't meet anything solid. It was cold and damp. So he was probably somewhere underground. Most likely in a warehouse basement or utility room.

Ok. Now how did I get here? I know I was on a mission with Batman. But...

Robins memory was hazy, he probably had been drugged. He remembered following up on a lead with his mentor. A teleportation device that was supposed to replicate zeta beam technology had been stolen from Starlabs. He and batman were investigating when they had intercepted the robbers. 14 men were standing in an alleyway, both the buyers and the sellers were present. Batman had told him to stay put and before he could even begin to argue, he was given the batglare. So he reluctantly complied.

Batman swung down using his grappling hook. Robin watched from the shadows as his mentor landed silently near the men. Batman took his chance to attack when the transaction had been finished. Robin saw his father figure take down the men in a matter of minutes. Nothing out of the ordinary had taken place, which upset Robin because he could have taken down some of the men himself. He wanted some action, it had been a surprisingly slow night in Gotham City and Batman had insisted upon him staying hidden away for most of the night.

Apparently the Joker had escaped from Arkam Asylum again and Batman didn't want Robin to accidentally run into him on the job. Once batman was done restraining the remainder of the robbers for the GCPD to find later, he began to make his way toward his young partner with the device in hand.

It was around 2:30a.m. when the Dynamic Duo started on their way home. The Batmobile was under repairs from its last encounter with Bane, so they had to make due with grappling home. Robin of course did not mind, he loved the sensation of flying. The cold and brisk Gotham air was refreshing to the young acrobat. Nothing else could compare to the experience, except of course for actual flying without the use of a grapple hook, trapise bar or the help of a certain friendly green Martian.

The two hero's were out of the crime infested parts of Gotham. Which helped to take the edge off their conscious. They were 'flying' side by side when suddenly a dart struck against the young ebony's neck, sending him into a dark abyss.

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Robins breathing hitched when relization struck him that he still had no idea who took him. And he didn't know if Batman was alright or not. Robin pulled and twisted against his restraints to try to escape and find Batman.

"Batman!" Nothing. "Batman, are you here?" Robin called.

Drip, drip, drop, drip.

That was the only sound Robin was greeted with. It made his stomach sink with despair and unease. He had to find a way out before his captor assumed he was awake.

Robin attempted to drag himself over to the nearest wall, however; that proved to be difficult. Given that his hands were restrained and his legs were bound in three different areas. His ankles, knees and upper thighs were tied to tightly for comfort with thick ropes. He also found his utility belt, gloves and shoes were gone as well.

With much effort, he made his way over to one of the walls. Where he began his blind search for any type of exit. With no luck finding any sort of escape route, he heard the shuffling of a door nob and he remained frozen to the spot, afraid of whoever was to come through the hidden door. He silently hoped that it was his mentor coming to rescue him.

When a door opened across the other side of the room, a menacing dark silhouette stood at the face of the door. A yellow light flood into the room, revelling it's small size. Robin guessed right, it was a basement of some sorts. He could now see his breath in front of him signifying that was room was at least below freezing. Robin glanced up and down the figure trying to figure out who it was. It deffenently was not Batman, which made his heart sink even further. It also wasn't Bane or Two-Face either. He ran the list of Gothams villains in his head quickly and still none of them fit the bill or MO. It wasn't until a sinister laugh echoed throughout the room that Robins hopes for escape finnaly crashed and burned to the ground.

The Joker.

How could he have been so stupid as to not remember that the Joker escaped from prison and is now seeking his revenge against the bat by using Robin.

"Hello birdy" the Joker said with slight amusement once he saw the position the young boy was in. Robin was kneeling against the far side wall with his tied hands up in a defensive stance. He must have looked so small because the Jokers glance just loomed over him. Like an hunter stalking it's prey.

"What do you want Joker!" Robin said with luckily no fear laced in his tone.

"Ah, as always your all business and no fun. I'm going to have to teach you that you must know how to approach your audience correctly." Joker said with a heavy sigh, as if lecturing a small child. Which he was, but Robin would never admit that.

"I was in the neighborhood bored and needed a playmate. So who better to choose than the boy wonder himself!" He said with a gleeful smile. The Joker began to walk towards a table that Robin had failed to notice earlier, he grabbed a dirty blood soaked knife and began his march toward the small now frightened boy. Robin attempted to drag his body away from the crazed man but to no avail. The Joker planted his foot on Robins back between the shoulder blades. Robin squirmed beneath him, making the Joker laugh with pleasure at the heroes waisted efforts.

"Now, now, now... don't you know it's rude to leave without saying goodbye." He said as he lifted Robin off the ground by his collar. The Jokers pale features and dark eyes complemented with his signature horrific smile was enough to drive any sane person off the cliff to insanity. Robin silently coward away from the man's gaze but being extra cautious not to show his fear. Batman had taught him better than to let anyone see him at his weakest point and he wasn't about to loose it in front of this clown. So gathering what courage he had, he spit in the man's face returning the smile.

Without any warning the Joker plunged the knife deep into the ebony's left shoulder. Twisting and turning the knife until he heard a slight whimper from the boy. Robin grit his teeth, not wanting to give the Joker the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. But that plan failed when the knife was removed and shoved into his lower abdomen. Robin let out a low grunt squeezing his eyes shut, trying to push away the pain into the deeper corners of his mind.

The Jokers sick laughter filled the spaces of the small room, echoing off the walls creating an even more eerie environment. As the Joker wipped the spit off his face he threw the boy to the ground which earned another soft grunt from the boy.

"You know, I was planning on letting you off with just a few scratches, but I've changed my mind. Seeing as you won't learn to be the perfect house guest for the next time we meet, so... what's the point. I might as well just finish you off in the worst way possible." He said as he brought down a crowbar hard on Robins knee, earning a satisfying crack at the contact and a slight yelp from the hero. The Joker continued beating the boy ruthlessly until he cried out freely, making the Jokers gut twist with sick satisfaction.

After about 20 minutes of the Jokers constant beatings, Robin was silently pleading for it all to end. His shoulder and stomach were bleeding out endlessly and his entire body was bruised and laced with cuts from the blows of the crowbar. The Joker stopped and paused to look at the boy, who was curled into himself and shaking slightly. Joker could see the beginning signs of hypothermia and he reveled in the fact that if he didn't kill the bird, then the elements will. But he wasn't that cruel, he would soon put the young hero out of his misery. Or at least he would when the Batman arrived.

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Batman POV

Batman was furious and Bruce Wayne was freaking out. One moment Robin was right next to him and the next he was passed out in an alleyway without the device and a note with an address on it, that was now leading him to an abandoned warehouse. Why do all villains have to be so cliche? Or at least that's what Robin would say.

Robin...

He had wanted Robin to be off patrol until he had arrested the Joker. But Dick had insisted that he would be fine and that he needs to learn how to deal with the more psychotic villians saying 'practice makes perfect' and after a lot of coaxing, Bruce had given in. So now he was chasing down a lead that might or might not lead him to his son.

Batman had reached the warehouse that was located by the harbor. It looked abandoned and seemingly uninhabited but he knew better. Whoever had taken his son was bound to have hired brute men if they had any intelligence.

Grappling to the roof of the building he found a ceiling hatch that would allow him to enter unseen. As he crept  through the building, he intercepted no men. Guess whoever took his son and the device isn't very smart, either that he is overconfident in his skills. Which did not settle the dark knights worried thoughts whatsoever.

Entering the northside hallway, Batman paced down quietly, listening for any signs of life. Comming upon a heavy industrial steal door that was slightly ajar he saw a sight that he prayed he would never have to see.

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No POV
.earlier.

The Joker walked back over to the table that held all sorts of blades, whips, cattle prongs, ice pics and other sorts of torture devices. He grabbed the device that he had also taken from the bat. Not knowing what it is of course, but if Batman was lugging it around grappling through the city, then it must be important and hopefully...dangerous.

With the device in hand, Joker went to sit down in a chair to await Batmans comming. It shouldn't be long considering he left him a goddamn note.

Robin lay panting on the ground, trying to fill his lungs with air, but with difficulty because Joker had pierced one of his lungs. He was going in and out of consciousness from the blood loss and severe pain. He just wanted to go home an lay in his warm bed, either that or just die. Both seemed like OK options, just as long as the pain went away.

"Don't worry kid, it'll be over soon enough. You and Batman will both soon be over." The Joker said smiling over at him. Crap. Robin didn't realize he was thinking outloud. What would Batman say if he saw him now, already giving up and going crazy wishing for death. He could already see the disappointed look he would receive from his mentor.

Right as Robin was about to loose consciousness completely, the door slammed open revelling his mentor. Batman ran forward toward his protege, kneeling down checking over his wounds.

"Robin are you alright?!" He said sounding slightly concerned. This of course confused Robin, he thought that he would be furious at him, considering how easily he was taken. He smiled up at his mentor, letting the older man know that he was OK now that he was there. Robin was so happy that Bruce was there that he momentarily forgot about the madman in the corner. He only remembered when he saw the clown in his peripheral vision standing behind the dark night. Robins eyes widened with fear, he was able to let out a small almost inaudible grunt of warning when the Joker raised his hands above his head holding a giant ax. Batman had barely enough time to roll out of the way with Robin grasped tightly in his arms to escape the blow.

They landed a little less gracefully than usual, but with Robins injuries, Batman had taken the weight of the fall. Batman set Robin down leaning against the wall in the corner before he lunged at the deranged prince of Gotham. The two were almost equal in their attacks, however; Batman had the advantage because of his extreme furry, giving him more power to his punches. He was winning until Joker made a dash to the chair he was sitting on earlier and grabbed the device and aimed it right at the dark night. Batman stopped right in his tracks, glaring at the clown. If anyone else had received this particular batglare then they would have surrendered instantly, but the Joker had never been effected by the bats glares. Which in itself creeped Dick out.

"Joker, put the gun down." He said in a warning tone.

"Hmm... I think not, I only took it because I wanted to see what it does and he seem like the perfect candidate to do test runs on." He said as he directed the barrel of the gun towards Robin. Robin froze in place, even though he knew it was only a teleportation device. However, if he were to be sent somewhere else without immediate medical attention, then he would surely die, and not to mention that Batman is still stuck fighting the Joker. But before he or Batman could do anything, Joker pulled the trigger, trapping Robin in a portal of colors before he completely disappeared.

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Well, I hope you guys enjoyed it. I will be posting chapter 2 on 1/30/18. So be sure to read it.

Be sure to leave comments, even if they are rude. I like constructive criticism, and I would like to improve my writting.

Have a great week!!!